Typewriting machine



Sept. 1, 1931. H. A. AVERY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1931. H. A. AVERY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lN VENTOR JHZk/ZAZVHJT MEL-.6;

' ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 1, 1931" Yumrsosmres PATENT o FicE nanny ALLEN 1. near, or environ, new Yon-1;, assrsiro e o L o sierra a concern 'rvrnwnirnns IIIQ, or New roan, A QQEPOEATIQN on NEW YORK T'YPEWRITING MACHINE Application filed April 29,

This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines and has for its principal'objects to providean improved ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism for such machines, to provide a ribbon feeding mechanism which will be positive inaction and ad Vance the ribbon uniformly step by step, to

providean automatic ribbon feed reversing means which will be positive and certain in action and will not. tie up the operation of the machine or causethe ribbon to be tautly held in the path of the types, and to provide a light and compact ribbon mechanism particularly suitable for portable typewriting machines. y d

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the in vention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is afragmentary plan view of a port able typewriting machine equipped with the improved ribbon mechanism, certain portions of the mechanism being omitted :for clearness of illustration, and the partsbeing shown in normal position with the ribbon 'nearlyexhaustedfromthe left hand spool;

Fig. 2 a transverse sectional. View approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 5, with V the parts positioned as in Fig. 1;

-Fig. '3 a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the mechanism, at the lefthand side of the machine only, and with'the parts set for eff fecting a reversal of the direction of feedon the next down stroke of a key;

Fig. 4 aview similar toFig. 1, showing the feed reversing means actuated, the parts being position-ed as at the end of the down stroke of a key-following the setting shown inFig.8;,

' Fig. 5 afragmentary vertical central longitudinal sectional view of the machine, the parts being in normal position for feeding the ribbon from the left hand to the right hand spool at the key strokes, the ribbonbeing nearly exhausted fromthe lefthand spool; and A I Figs. ,6, '7, 8, ;9 and 10 detail perspective views of parts of the ribbonmechanism.

541' :The im rovementsare shown embodied in 1930. Serial No. 448,262.

a well known typewriting machine disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. %99. fil d Avri 1 2 a d 9. 3 m s o h m hine i h re n wn and de b d as i ec sary to un tand g 1 th n w i o fe d ng an e rs g mea s? The machine has a lower flat and substani ly r tangula ma n f m t e id Wa l 1 of whi here C nn c d by an n al partition wall 12 having openings 13 rearwardly through which the side arms 14; of the universal bar 15 extend. The side arms 14L e pivom lv d o h upper e O a r and aft rocking frame 16 which ispivotally supported at its lower end from the main, frame, saidarms being slidably supported n uid d at th i r ar nd 011 a ran ver e shaft 17 in the main frame. The universal bar 15, normally held in the position shown in F ig, 5 by the usual spring means (not shown), is moved rearwardly by the type bars 18 on the down strokes of the type keys 19, I g

A universal ribbon mechanism operating rock shaft 20 underlies wall 12 and is journalled in brackets 21 attached to said wall. A slide 22, guided at its rear end on shaft 17 and reciprocable by a pin 23 on rocking frame 16, is provided with a pendent arm 24 connected by a link 25 with a rock arm 26 pendent from shaft 20. It will be obvious that any other suitable means may be provided for oscillating shaft 20 at the Wbe t pkesr,

Ih e ribbon spools 27 at opposite sides of the machine have each an associated set of ribbon feeding and reversing devices, and the universal rock shaft 20 is provided adjacent its opposite endswith two upstandingrocl; arms 28 extendingupward in front of Wall 12 and connected at their upper ends with the respective sets of feeding andreversing devices by two forwardly extending wire links 29. Each spool with its associated devices is mounted upon a sheet metal supporting bracket 30, therebeing one of these brackets adjacent each side of the machine forward of the platen carriage 81. As the sets 1 of devices are similar, a detailed description of one willsuflice.

-The supporting bracket is disposed generally in a horizontal plane above the adjacent top edge portion of the main frame side wall and is detachably held to the adjacent side wall by screws'32 passing through the wall and a pendent lug 33 on'the bracket, which lug lies fiatwiseagainst the inner face of the side wall. A vertical post 34 rigidly held at its lower end tothe bracket has a .sl1oulder 35 adjacent its lower end on which is seated the lower end of. the hub 36 of a spool driving ratchet wheel 37. The hub 36 of the ratchet is freely rotatable about the post and the ribbon spool 27 is mounted on x and keyed in any suitable manner to the upperfend of said hub to turn with the ratchet wheel;

- Between the spool and ratchet wheel is 10- cated a flat plate 38 rigidly held by screws,

as shown, to upwardly projecting lugs 39 on the bracket 30. Inwardly and rearwardly a' f short distance from the spool, plate 38 is formed with a pendent lug 40 lying flatwise in a plane corresponding substantially with the path of the ribbon 43 from the spool to the central'r'ibbon vibrator 41 of the machine and the printing point on the platen 42. An upstanding interponent controlling lever and auxiliary ribbon guide 44 is pivotally held at its lower end to lug 40 at the forwardly and inwardly fronting face of the lug by a pivot screw 45 to rock in a plane parallel with that of the lug. This lever comprises a sheet metal lower portion having an integral interponent controlling finger 46 extending diagonally forwardly and outwardly of the machine towardthe spool, and an'upper ribbon guiding wire section 47 held to the lower section to rock therewith. The wire section isdoubled over and downward at its upper end to form a flat vertically disposed ribbon guiding loop above the sheet metal section which is formed at its upper end'with a holding lug 48 1 rolled or bent around the wire section below said loop. The wire section below lug 48 and above pivot 45 is bent laterally to form an integral stop pin 49 extending through a hole in the sheet metal section and working in a short slot 50 extending transversely of lug 4O of plate 38. The two sections are thus rigidly connected and pin 49 is adapted to coact with the ends-of slot 50 to limit the extent of swinging movement 7 of the interponent controller.

The controller is normally held at the outward limit of its swing by the return spring 51 connected at one end to the controller above the pivotal point of the latter and connected at its other end to an eye or loop 52 punched downward from the bracket 30.

The controller is adapted to be rocked inwardly against the pull of the return spring by means of an eyelet'58 carried by the ribbon. There is one eyelet 58 near each end l of the ribbon, and these eyelets will not pass through the guide loops of the controllers; Finger 46 loosely engages over the inner arm of a two-arm sheet metal interponent lever 53 which extends transversely of the machine between the ratchet wheel and the bracket and "at the rear of post i34 'an'd' is "pivotally heldby means of a fore and-a-ft-"extending screw 54against the rear face of an upstandng lug 55 on a feed direction controlling cam 56. Y

The outer arm of the interponent lever is weighted as shown at 57 to overbalance its inner arm and lift the latter arm to present a forwardly projecting abutment finger 59 thereon in the path of rearward movement of the laterally extending striking finger 60 of a feed-pawl-c arrying and reversing-camactuating lever 61 slightly before the con- .troller is swung inwardly to the opposite limit of its throw by the ribbon eyelet as the ribbon is exhausted or substantially entirely unwound from the adjacent spool, as shown in Fig. 3. The pin 49 will prevent such an excessive swinging of the controller against the pull of its spring as would permit the interponent lever getting from under finger 46. Spring 51 normally overcomes the weighted arm of the interponent lever and holds said lever in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 with the abutmentfinger 59 below the path of striking finger 60 of lever 61.

The reversing cam 56 is a sheet metal lever resting upon the top of bracket 30 and pivotally held thereto by a pivot screw 62 to oscillate about a vertical axis. The two cam levers 56 associated with the respective spools have rearwardly extending arms connected by a transverse wire link 63 so that positioning of one cam lever by its associated actuating lever causes a reverse positioning of the other cam lever. Each cam lever has a forwardly extending arm carrying an integral cam head 64 at its inner side which, when the forwardly extending lever arm is rocked toward the left of the machine, cams out and holds out of the teeth oftheassociated ratchet 37, during typing operations, a detent pawl 65 and a ratchet driving or feed pawl 66.

The lever 61 actuates-its associate reversing are driven in opposite directions by their sheet metal driving or feed pawls. The detent pawls coact with the ratchets to prevent reverse'rotation of the ratchetson the idle strokes ofthe feed pawls. f Each detent pawl is formed of spring steel and is anchored at its outer end by a'screw 67 to one of the lugs '39 of the adjacent bracket 30, and extends inwardly forwardly of the ratchet whee being provided with a nose at its inner end for engaging between the ratchet wheel teeth.

The feed ordriv ng pawls 66 are arranged between the two ratchet wheels to rock fore and aft'otthe machmc with levers 61. Each lever 61 is formed of'sheet metal and has a yoke-likecentral portion affording a double bearing on a pivot screw 68 extending trans versely of the machine and tapped into a pendent lug 69 on the adjacent bracket 30.

Levers 61 have pendent arms to the lowerends of which are connected the forward ends of the respective links 29. Each lever has two upstanding arms extending up from opposite sides of its yoke-like bearing portion, the outermost one of which is formed with the outwardly extending striking finger 6O heretogfore referred to, and the innermost one of which is'i'ormed with a lug 70 lying .fiatwise in a transverse plane, against the front face of which lug the associated ratchet driving pawl 66 isheld by a fore and aft extending )lVOt screw 71 ta 3 edinto the in ,1 l P o The nose of pawl66 is located above its pivot inthe plane of the ratchet wheel, and said pawl has a pendent tail portion coactive withing 70 to afford a broad non-wabbling pawl mount without'excessive tightening of pivot screw 71, and lug 70 'lSf0I111OCl with a forward projection 7 2 at its inner edge engageable by the pawlta1l PIGCQ'tO limit swinging of the pawl nose toward the ratchetat a I, point at'w'hichsaid nose is coactive with the ratchet teeth to drive the ratchet.

A coiled spring 73 connects the pendent arm of lever 61 with a forwardly extending lug 74 at the outer side of: the pawl tail piecoto normally urge the pawl nose in between the ratchet teeth.

In order to prevent-accidentalshitting of the reversing cam leverslfidspring detents '55 are provided held at their forward ends by screws 76 to pendent lugs 77 on brackets 30. The detents 75 have cam nosesat their rear ends to opposite" sides of which snap the 7 reversed.

pointed inner ends of inwardly extending arms T8 of the cam levers, on which arms are 7 formed thepivot lugs 55 for the interponent levers '53 The extent of rocking movement of the cam levers 1S determined by spaced stop ed es 79 and 80 contactive alternatel with the posts 34 below the post shoulders 35 and the feed-reversing action takes place on the down or printing strokes of the keys while the ribbon is stationary. It will also be observed that the construction of the reversing inc-ch 'sin is such that tying up of the ribbon mechanism to interfere with the proper act n of the machine can not take place. If the contact ih'iger 59 of a controller comes up under the striking linger 60 during a feed of the ribbon on the up stroke of a key while the finger 60 is rocked rearward, the controller is free to continue its rocking move ment und r the pull of the ribbon eyelet, and as finger 60 moves forward it will slide off fin er 59 of the weighted interponent, whereupon weight 57 will lift finger 59 until the interponent is arrested by finger 46 01" the controller with finger 59 in position for striking by finger 60 to reverse the feed on the next down keystroke.

' What I claim is:

1. In a typewriting machine having type actuating keys and an inking ribbon, the combination of a pair of ribbon spools, a pair of ratchets withwhich the spools are rotatable, a pair of levers extending in the general direction of the ratchet axes and pivotally supported to vibrate about axes extending transversely of the ratchet axes, a universal rock shaft oscillatable by the type actuating keys about an axis parallel with the said lever axes and having a pair of rock arms, a pair of links connecting said rock arms with said levers, a pair oi driving pawls pivotally held to the levers to swing about axes extending transversely of the lever and ratchet axes, springs connecting said pawls and levers and normally urging the pawls into engagement with the ratchets, a pair of cams associated with the ratchets and each mounted to oscillate in a plane parallel with that of its associated ratchet, shift element connecting said cams to position the same to hold one driving pawl out of driving relation with its ratchet and allow the spring for the other driving pawl to yieldably hold it to its ratchet, a pair of interponent members pivoted on said cams to rock about axes extending transvarsely of the lever axes, and a pair of pivotally mounted interponent controllers adjacent the spools normally spring-held in position to hold said interponents out of the field of movement of the levers and each rockable by the ribbon upon substantial exhaustion of the ribbon from its associated spool to permit the interponcnt controlled thereby to move into the field of movement oil" the adjacent lever for reversing the positions of active position.

4. A typewr1ting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interponent members are balanced to normally tendto move into the held of action of the pawl-carrying levers,

and their Controllers have ribbon guide loops eng'ageable by ribbon eyelets adjacent the ribbon ends for rocking the controllers in opposition to their springs, said controllers being connected with the interponent members solely by pressure lingers.

5. In a typewriting machine having a ribbon and a key actuated universal bar, the combination of a pair of ratchet wheels rotatable about upstanding'axes, a pair of ribbon feeding spools held to the ratchets to rotate therewith, a pair of upstanding levers vibratable by theuniversal bar about axes extending transversely of the machine, a pair of ratchetdriving pawls pivotally held to said upstanding levers to vibrate fore and aft of the machine in unison with the levers and to rock relatively to said levers about axes extending fore and aft of the machine, a pair of springs connecting each pawl with its supporting lever to normally rock the pawls about their pivots on the levers into yielding engagement with their associated ratchets, a pair of detents normally yieldably urged to the ratchets to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchets, a pair of cams oscillatable about upstanding axes and interconnected for simultaneous positioning of the cams to: hold the driving pawl and detent for one ratchet out of operative relation with the ratchet and allowing the driving pawl and detent for the other ratchet to yieldably coact-with the latter ratchel, a pair of interponents mounted on the cams lor alternate striking thereof by the adjacent upstanding levers to reverse the positions of the cams, and controlling devices for the respective interponents normally holding said interponents out of operative relation with the upstanding levers and each operable by the ribbon upon substantial exhaustion'of the ribbon from the adjacent spool to permit striking of its con-v ratchet-driving pawls pivotallyheld to said upstanding levers to vibrate fore and aft of the machine in unison with the levers and to rockrelatively to said levers about axes extending fore and aft of the machine, a pair of springs connecting each pawlwith its sup porting lever to normally rock the pawls about their pivots on the levers into'yielding engagement with their associated ratchets, a pair of detents normally yieldably urged to the ratchets toprevent reverse rotation of the ratchets, a pair of cams oscillatable about upstanding axes and interconnected for simultaneouspositioning of the cams to hold the driving pawl and detent for one ratchet out of operative relation with the ratchet andallowing the driving pawl and detent for the other ratchet to yieldably coact with the latter ratchet, a pair of interponents mounted on the cams for alternate striking thereof by the adj acent upstanding levers to reverse the positions of the cams, and a pair of interponent controlling ribbon guide devices adjacent he interponents each normally spring urged in one direction to hold its interponent out of position for striking thereof by the adjacent upstanding lever and movable in the opposite direc ionby the ribbon upon substantial exhaustion ofthe ribbon from the adjacent spool for setting the interponent for striking thereof by the lever.

7. A typewriting machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein each spool and its associated driving and drive-direction controlling parts are mounted on one of a pair of sheet metal brackets detachably held to the main frame of the machine. i

8. In a ribbon feeding and feed-reversing mechanism, a feed ratchet, a ribbon spool driven therefrom, a feed-pawlcarrying lever having a striking portion extending transversely of the lever, means supporting the ratchet and lever toturn about axes extending transversely of each other, a 'feed pawl pivotally held to the lever to rock into and out of engagement with the ratchet about an axis extending transversely of the lever axis, means for yieldably holding the feed pawl to the ratchet, means for vibrating the lever at the type strokes, a cam mounted to oscillate in a path substantially parallel with the plane of the ratchet between two positions in one of which the feed-pawl is coactive with the ratchet and in the other of which the pawl is held cammed out of coctive relation with the ratchet by said cam, an interponent mounted on the cam for movement into and out of the field oi movement of the striking portion of the lever, and ribbon controlled means for effecting setting of the interponent for effectinga shift 9. In aribbon feeding and feed-reversing iso " mechanism, afeed ratchet, a ribbon spool driven therefrom, a feed-pawl carrying lever,

a feed pawl pivotally held to the lever torock into and out of engagement with the ratchet about an axis extending transversely of the lever axis, means for yieldably holding the feed pawl to the ratchet, means for vibrating thelever at the type strokes, a cam mounted to oscillate in a path substantially parallel with the plane of the ratchet between two positions'in one, of which the feed-pawl is coactive with the ratchet and in the other of w'vhich the pawl is held cammed out of c-o active relation with the ratchet by said cam, H "an interponent mounted on the camfor move ment into and out ofposition to connect the cam and lever for oscillation of the cam by the lever, and means-for automatically operatively, connecting the leverand cam through a thefmedium of the interponent for shifting the cam from one feed-pawl controlling position to the other upon substantial exhaustion of the ribbon from the spool. r i 10. In a ribbon'feeding and feed reversing mechanism, a feed ratchet, a ribbon spool driven therefrom, a feed-pawl carrying lever, means supporting the ratchet and lever to turnabout axes extending transversely of each other, a feed pawl pivotally held to the I lever to rock into and out of engagement with the ratchet about an axis extending transversely of the lever axis, means for yieldably holding the feed pawl to the ratchet, means for vibrating the lever at the typestrokes, a cam mounted to'oscillate in a path substantially parallel with the planeof the ratchet between two positions in one of which the feed pawl is coactive with the V ratchet, and in the other of which the pawl iis held cammed out of coactive relation with the ratchet by said cam, an interponent pivotally mounted on the cam to rock about an axis extending transversely of the cam axis, said lever having an interponent striking 4 portion rocking therewith in the general direction of the interponent axis, and means normally 'yieldably holding said interponent rocked out of the field of movement of said striking portion of the lever and movable 'r automatically upon exhaustion of a ribbon from the spool to elfect presentation of the interponent for a striking action of said lever portionto shift the cam.

11. In a ribbon feeding and feed-reversing mechanism, a feed ratchet,,a ribbon spool driven therefrom, a feed-pawl carrying lever, means supporting the ratchet and lever to turn about axes extendingtransversely of each other, a feed pawl pivotally held to the lever to rock into and out of engagement with the I ratchet about an axis extending transversely of the leveraxis, means for yieldably holding the feed pawl to the ratchet, means for vibrating the lever at the type strokes, a cam oe 'mounted to oscillate in a path substantially parallel with the plane of the ratchet between two positions in one of which the feed pawl is coactive with the ratchet and in the other of Which the pawl is held cammed out of coactive relation with the ratchet by said? cam, an interponent lever extending transversely of the path of nmvement of a portion of thepawl-carrying lever and pivotally guide having a ribbon guide portion, en-

gageable by a ribbon abutment for rocking the guide in opposition to its spring, and

means for swinging the interponent levcrai into position for striking upon movement of the guide by the ribbon abutment.

12. In a ribbon feeding and feed-reversing mechanism, a feed ratchet, a ribbon spool driven therefrom,a feed-pawl carrying lever,rmeans supporting the ratchet and lever to turn about axes extending transversely of each other, a feed pawl pivotally held to the lever to rock into and out of engagement with the ratchet about an axis extending; transversely of the lever axis, means for yieldably holding the feed pawl to the ratchet, means for vibrating the lever at, the type strokes, a cam mounted to oscillate in a path substantially parallel with the planelof the ratchet between two positions in one of which the feedpawl is coactive with the ratchet and in the other of whichthe pawl is held cammed out of coactive relation with the ratchet by said cam, a two-arm interponent lever pivoted on the cam to rock about an axis extending transversely of the cam axis and having a weighted arm and a contact arm overbalanced by the weighted arm and movable thereby into the field of movement of a part of the pawl carrying lever, a pivoted interponent lever controller having an abutment for pressing the contact arm of, the interponent lever out of the field of movement of the pawl-carrying lever,and a spring connected with said controller and normally holding it rocked to a position in which the contact arm of the interponent lever is not strikable by the pawl-carrying lever, said controller having a portion engageable by a ribbon abutment to rock the controller in opposition to its spring. o

13. In a ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism, a spool-driving ratchet, a universal actuator, a lever pivot extending transversely ofthe axis of the ratchet, a lever having a yoke-like double bearing portion through the sides of which said pivot extends, said lever having a pawl-carrying f le ' arm and a feed-reverse device actuating tappet arm atone side of its yoke-like bearing portion and an arm at the opposite side of V 7 mechanism, a feed reversing cam, an actuator therefor normally inellective thereon, an insaid bearing portion connected with the universal actuator, a ratchet driving pawl pivotally held to said pawl-carrying arm to rock about an axis extending transversely of'the lever pivot, and a SDIlIlQ' connect ng said pawl With said lever to yieldably hold the pawl to the ratchetc 14; In a ribbon feeding and reversing inechanism,a spool-driving'ratchet, a universal actuator, a lever pivot extendlng transversely of the axis of the ratchet, a lever having a yoke-like double bearing portion through the sides of which saidpivot extends, sald lever having apawl-carr'yln'g arm and a feed-reverse device actuating tappet said lever to yieldably holdthe pawl to the ratchet, and ribbon settable feed-reversing means operable'by said tappet arm to rock said pawlin opposition to its spring and hold the pawl out of action.

' 15. In a ribbon feeding and feed-reversing mechanism, a feed ratchet, a ribbon spool.

' driven therefrom, afeed-pawl carrying'lever,

means supporting the ratchet and lever to turn about axes extending transversely of I each other a feed pawl pivotally held'to the -tent of swinging movementof the controller in both directions, I

16. In a ribbon ieedmg and reversing terponent pivoted on the cam and balanced to normally tend to move to a position operatively connecting the cam and actuator,

a pivoted interponent controller loosely bearing on the interponent and movable by the ribbon to allow said interponenttomove to its'cam and actuator connecting position, and a spring normally yieldably holding said controller rocked to a position in which it holds the'inte'rponent pressed out of its "cam and actuator connecting position.

17 In a ribbon feeder and reversing mechanism, a feed reversing cam; an actuator 'therefornormal-ly ineffective thereon, an interponent pivoted on the cam and balanced to normally tend to move to a position operatively connecting the cam andlactuator, a pivoted interponent' controller loosely hearing on the interpon'ent movable by the ribbon to allow said interponent to move'to its cam and actuator connecting position, a spring normally yieldably holding said controller rocked to a position in whichit holds the interponent pressed out of its cam and actuator connectingposition, and means for limiting swinging of the controller in both directions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.- HENRY ALLEN AVERY.

lever. to rock intoand out of engagement I 'with the ratchet about an ax s extending et, means for vibratingthe lever at the type i strokes, a cam mounted to,oscillate in a path substantially parallel with the plane ofthe V ratchet between twopositions in one of which 7' l the feed-pawl is coactive with the ratchet and in the other of which thepawl is held cammed out of coactive relation with the ratchetby f said cam, a two-arm interponent lever pivoted on the cam to rock about an axis extending transversely oft-he cam axis and having a weighted arm anda contact ar1n'overbal' ponent lever controller having an abutment for pressing the contact arm of the interponent lever out of thefield of movement of the paWl-carryinglever, a spring connected with said contr oller and normally holding it rocked to a position in which the contact arm of the interponent lever is not strikable by the pawl-carrying lever, said controller havingva portion engageable by a ribbon abutment to rock the controller in opposition to 'its spring, and means'for limiting the ex- 

